Hence part of the resistance.Īt one time in the history hatmaking, you could take rabbit fur and make outstanding felt hats, due to the mercury. The hydrogen peroxide that was used to replace mercury could never give the same results, and the hatters knew it. It puffed it up, making the eyelashes look fuller, thicker.įrom what I understand, mercury felt is the best that was ever made. Why? Well, the mercurial nitrate did the same to their lashes as it did to the fur. What is interesting to me is how the ladies used to use mercury nitrate on their eye lashes. By the time the hat left the factory, you would have found more mercury in a tuna sandwich. As the hats were being made, steam was used, and this leeched the mercury out in the form of a gas. The constant exposure to the mercury gas was the culprit in the hat factories. Nowadays, we have the technology to use it safely. The Hat Union on the other hand was instrumental in getting it banned here in the States. One reason the hatters did not want mercury removed was its superiour ability to produce fine felt, even out of rabbit fur. Processes to mat felt that did not include mercury were developed, and by 1943 all use of mercury in hatmaking ceased." In 1934, following intense objections from hatters labor unions, a major scientific study was performed and documented mercury poisoning in hatters. Some hatters eventually died of mercury poisoning. "'Mad as a hatter' became a common term for someone experiencing severe mental problems. The ailment became known as 'The Danbury Shakes.' In very severe cases, they experienced hallucinations. Stumbling about in a confused state with slurred speech and trembling hands, affected hatters were sometimes mistaken for drunks. "Mercury poisoning attacks the nervous system, causing drooling, hair loss, uncontrollable muscle twitching, a lurching gait, and difficulties in talking and thinking clearly. But there are signs that mercury remains in soil and river sediment not far from where factories once stood."īy 1960, Mallory was one of the last of the great hat factories to leave Danbury, having combined with other companies. " The state of Connecticut outlawed the use of mercury in hat making in the early 1940s. During the industry boom of the 1880s, over five million hats a year were produced there in 56 different factories. "Danbury was known as the hat making capital of the world in the 19th century.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |